Acts 12:6-9

Summary retelling of Acts 12:6-9

The night before Peter was to be executed, Peter was sleeping between two guards.  Each guard had a chain attached to Peter, and there were guards stationed outside the door.  An angel of the Lord came to Peter and light spilled into the whole prison cell.  The angel wakes Peter and tells him to get up quickly.  The chains fall away from Peter.  The angel tells Peter to dress himself and put on his sandals.  At first, Peter didn’t think that this was real; Peter thought it was a vision.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Peter is chained to two guards and they have another two guards stationed outside of the room.  Clearly Herod does not want anything to happen to Peter.  Yet, the night before he is to be executed, Peter is set free.  God could have set Peter free anytime up to now, but God chooses to wait for the very last moment to free Peter.

Why do you think God waited to the very last moment to set Peter free?

Second Thought:

Peter is sleeping rather soundly when the angel comes before him.  I don’t know about you, but I doubt I would sleep very soundly the night before I was to be executed.  Yet, Peter does sleep soundly because his hope is in God.  Peter knows that should he be killed, it will not be the end of his life but a passage into the next life.  Peter’s focus is on God, the resurrection, and eternal life.  Given that focus, Peter can remain calm even the night before he is to be executed.

Are you inspired by Peter’s faith?  Do you think you could have had that kind of faith?

Third Thought:

Peter is told to put on his sandals.  It is neat to think that Peter’s journey begins with Peter humbly on his knees.  While this is a symbolic gesture, it does show that God desires us to be humble in life.  God wants us to bow before Him before we endeavor on any work that He has called us to do.

Why is humbleness so important for God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 12:10-11